The same Holy Spirit that descended like a dove on Jesus after his Baptism, entered the world in the rush of a mighty wind and tongues of fire, filling the disciples with confidence to go out and proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all people. On that first Pentecost, people listened eagerly to the message of the Gospel - Christ Jesus had fulfilled God’s plan for salvation. Over 3,000 people were baptized. Jesus’ promise of an Advocate had come true. ”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26, NRSV) Teacher and Guide: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27) With these words, Jesus promised his disciples the power to testify to all that they had witnessed while they were with Jesus. The Holy Spirit continues to strengthen us to do the same. The Spirit give us the ability to speak of our faith, to proclaim our faith, and not be timid about our proclamation. “When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12) Friend: Since the Holy Spirit reminds us of all that Jesus taught, the Spirit brings us comfort in time of distress. Jesus promised “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) No matter what, we are never alone. Through the highs and lows, the Spirit is right there beside us, strengthening us to face life’s challenges head on. We live in the knowledge that although this life is fraught with pain, discouragement, sadness, and challenges, we have a constant, loving companion in the Holy Spirit. Prayer Partner: Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27) The Spirit knows what we need even when we don’t. The Spirit makes our prayers known to God, our Father, and asks the Father to meet our needs according to his will. We do not need to try and find the words to express our thoughts and feelings to God. The Spirit is already there, praying on our behalf. Gift Giver: The Holy Spirit gives believers the gifts and abilities needed to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. We need but listen to and heed the prompting of the Spirit to do the will of God. To the church at Corinth Paul writes: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Guide, Friend, Prayer Partner, Gift-Giver, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Let us give thanks to our God!Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Holy Spirit into the world and into our hearts. Let the Spirit’s fire blaze within us so that we may bold proclaim your majesty, power, and glory to the ends of the earth. In the name of Jesus who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1, NRSV) The opening line of the Gospel of Mark leaves the reader no doubt that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, even though Jesus himself tries to keep his identity a secret. Mark’s narrative focuses on what Jesus did rather than what he said. This Gospel emphasizes the healing of the sick, lame and blind who come to Jesus seeking healing in overwhelming numbers, driving out demons, conflict with the religious authorities who fear losing their power and plot to kill him, and teaching the often recalcitrant disciples who initially follow without reservation but eventually betray him and flee. Jesus teaches as one with authority, casts out demons as God’s powerful Son, and tries to keep those who learn his identity as the Messiah quiet until “his time had come.” The Gospel of Mark is the oldest Gospel, believed to have been written to a Gentile audience in 60-70 AD, before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Revised Common Lectionary sets aside April 25th as the Commemoration of Mark the Evangelist, but just who is this man credited with writing the second Gospel? Neither he nor Luke is identified as being one of the Twelve Disciples; however, it is commonly believed that Mark was a friend of Peter and as one of the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus (Luke 10). Peter refers to someone he calls “My son Mark” in 1 Peter 5:13. It is believed from this that Mark was the interpreter of Peter and wrote down the stories of Jesus as relayed to him by the Apostle Peter as he listed to Peter preach and teach about Jesus after the Ascension. It is believed that in the account of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Mark was present. “All of them deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.” (Mark 14:50-51, NRSV) It is likely that Mark is describing himself in this incident, as this tidbit of information is not worth mentioning on its own. Sometimes known as John Mark, he is mentioned in various places throughout the New Testament. He is a kinsman to Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) and accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their trip from Antioch back to Jerusalem (Acts 12:25) and subsequently went with them on their second missionary journey (Acts 13:5). He and his mother were prominent members of the early church and their home was a frequent meeting place in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). Paul mentions him again in his letter to the Colossians and his second letter to Timothy. Tradition holds that later in his life, Mark becomes the Bishop of Alexandria and is eventually martyred for his faith, although there is record of this in Scripture. What can we take away from the life and writings of Mark? Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. O God, we thank you for the life and witness of Mark, who boldly proclaimed Your Holy Precious Son, Jesus, as the Messiah. May his proclamation of the Good News provide us the knowledge, strength and courage give us insight in your heart so that we too may boldly proclaim your glory. Amen

“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:1-2, NRSV) Exodus chapter 15:1-12 is known as the Song of the Sea or Moses’ Song. Moses himself is often credited with its writing. In it the people of Israel communally sing of the great and mighty deeds of God, who parted the Red (Reed) Sea, allowing for their final escape from the yoke of Pharaoh. It is the first known song sung by God’s Chosen People. It is also referenced in the last Book of the Bible: “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:3-4, NRSV) The account of the Exodus (the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt) remains one history’s seminal moments for modern-day Jews as well as Christians. “Without the exodus, no one would have recognized the merciful and powerful God who saves and delivers anew that Jesus proclaimed in his ministry.” (Boadt) The Exodus, although important to Christians as part of our heritage and reinforcement of God’s presence with his people throughout history, is to our Jewish brothers and sisters what the Resurrection is to Christians. It is the miraculous saving action of God that frees his people from oppression and slavery. The ancient Israelites were freed from their bondage to slavery under Pharaoh and Christian believers are freed from their bondage to sin and death. The deliverance of Israel shined as a light to the world of the power and sovereignty of the one true God, the God of Israel. The Resurrection of Jesus shines a light to the world as a beacon of hope, salvation, and the promise of eternal life. The Exodus forms the Israelites into a faith community. The Resurrection creates a community of like-minded believers throughout the world. The Exodus narrative provides Christians the foundation for our liturgy and our Lutheran understanding of the Ten Commandments as both Law and Gospel. After the tenth plague (death of the first born sons of Egypt), Pharaoh releases the Israelites from their bondage and the traditions of Passover began. We know as Christians that the Lord’s Supper was instituted on the eve of the Passover celebration (Maundy Thursday, the night in which our Lord was betrayed) when our Lord took bread, broke it, and gave it to all saying “this is my body broken for you” followed by the sharing of the cup saying “this my blood poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Out of the tragedy of the tenth plague the Israelites were freed from their chains. Out of the tragedy of Good Friday, Christians are freed from the chains of sin and death. We are free to sing “the Lord is my strength and my might and he has become my salvation.”

Boadt. "Reading the New Testament." Boadt, Lawrence. Reading the New Testament: An Introduction. Mawah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1984. 169. The artwork included in this post is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923. This image might not be in the public domain outside of the United States.

“Time is a gift of God’s creation. People order time in various ways, often based on the rhythms of nature. The Church organizes times by the Church year. It tells the story of God, who is beyond time, acting in history–above all through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 13). The liturgical churches organize time in segments that generally follow the life of Jesus, allowing believers to focus on various themes for varying amounts of time. It begins with Advent, the time of preparation for his birth (and second coming), followed by Christmas during which we celebrate the arrival of God in the flesh. The Church then enters the time of Epiphany, which commemorates the revelation of Christ to the world as the magi come to homage to the newborn King. The Church then shifts focus to Lent and Holy Week, a time of penitence and self-reflection in preparation for Jesus’ Passion and death. Then, it’s Easter! When the Easter cycle is complete (7 Sundays during which the Church remains focused on praising and glorifying the risen Christ), the Church marks Jesus’ Ascension into heaven which is immediately followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Christians continue to build their relationship with Jesus through the season of Pentecost until it is time again for Advent. Therefore it would seem that Easter is almost over. Yesterday, we celebrated Christ’s resurrection in songs and hymns, in the reading of the Easter Gospels, in shouting “Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!” Gathered together for this most momentous occasion in history, we remembered that through Jesus’ rise from the dead, death has been overcome once and for all. The victory has been won! Today, our hearts are filled with the knowledge that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God. The Church will continue to reflect on and celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord over the next 7 weeks. But will Easter really be over at the end of the 7 weeks of the Easter Season? No! Easter as the celebration of the return of spring, the time of the Easter Bunny, chocolate filled baskets, new clothes to wear on Easter morning, the delicious family-centered breakfasts and brunches, and that special Easter dinner is over for the year. Using those criteria, “Easter” is now over. But the true Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection, through which we have received assurance that Christ is alive, today, tomorrow and forever continues daily (well beyond the end of the Church’s Easter season), as each day we are washed clean by the waters of our baptism. Through the Resurrection, Christ makes all things new. As Paul writes in his letter to the Romans: “Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:4-5, NRSV) As God’s loved, redeemed and forgiven children, we are to bring a word of hope and consolation to those who grieve, work to bring justice to the oppressed, love our neighbors as ourselves, care for God’s creation - - - you get the picture – be a part of making this world a better place. To work side by side with Jesus and each other to help restore creation to its fullest glory – the glory that was lost when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. In doing so, we walk in the knowledge of the central truth of our faith, Easter is never over. “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Gracious God, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts that we may continue to sing "Alleluia! Christ is Risen" each and every day. In the name of the Risen Lord we pray. Amen

Jesus’ burial took place on Friday evening, the beginning of the Sabbath Day, which lasted until Saturday evening. Wrapped in burial cloths and spices as was the custom of the day, he was placed in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. There our Lord and Savior lay until Sunday morning… “When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:1-8, NRSV) Why would the women go to the tomb of an executed criminal where Roman guards were posted? They risked their lives by simply going to the tomb. This was, after all, the place where the rabble-rousing, trouble causing Jesus of Nazareth was buried. Jesus who had defied the Jewish establishment and the Roman authorities. The act of going to the tomb was to risk the wrath of both. In a sermon written for Resurrection Sunday, Martin Luther wrote: “It was nothing but the great love they bore to the Lord, which had sunk so deeply into their hearts that for his sake they would have risked a thousand lives.” * The women, although initially too terrified to speak, are the first to proclaim “Christ is Risen!” It is through the conquering of their fear that the world first learns of the Resurrection – the seminal moment in the history of mankind. “These women also show us a beautiful example of a spiritual heart that undertakes an impossible task, of which the whole world would despair. Yet a heart like this stands firm and accomplishes it, not thinking the task impossible.” * Ok, so now we “know” about the Resurrection. Jesus has risen from the dead! But what does it mean for us? It means the end of death. Death no longer gets the last word. We are freed from the bondage of sin. We no longer owe a debt to God for our transgressions. We can boldly walk in the Light of the World. We no longer have to fear the darkness. We never walk alone – Jesus is with us. Our relationship with God our Father is restored. We are made new. No longer are we tainted by original sin. We are worthy to call Jesus “brother” and God “Father.” We profess that Jesus is Messiah, Savior, Redeemer and Lord. We live in the promise of eternal life. Our faith in the Risen Lord through the grace of God saves us! Alleluia!Luther wrote: “But when I come to understand the fact that all the works God does in Christ are done for me, nay, they are bestowed upon and given to me, the effect of his resurrection being that I also will arise and live with him; that will cause me to rejoice. This must be brought home to our hearts, and we must not merely hear it with the ears of our body nor merely confess it with our mouth.” * What Jesus accomplished on the cross and through his resurrection is poignantly recounted in Chris Tomlin’s song, “Jesus Messiah.” The words reveal the reality of the meaning of the Resurrection. Below is an acoustic video version of this incredibly powerful song. I encourage you to listen to the words, letting them sink deeply into your heart on this Easter day – the day of the Resurrection!O God, our Creator and Father, we praise you for sending your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our salvation. In his resurrection, you have delivered us from the power of sin and death. Help us to remember daily that we are made new by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. May we boldly proclaim Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, Savior of All! Amen

Have a blessed Easter, Sandi Pontious

* A Sermon on the Resurrection by Martin Luther accessed 4/19/14: http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/of-christs-resurrection-martin-luther-sermon-on-atonement-157481.asp?Page=1 Photo: “Peter von Cornelius [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less.

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46, NRSV) In his final hours on the cross, Jesus spoke his “Last Seven Words.” Not simple words, but phrases rich and deep with meaning for those who proclaim him “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer and Lord.” We now conclude our exploration of these extraordinary words of our Lord.The Seventh Word: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) The Gospels record last moment of Jesus’ human, earthly life:Matthew 27:50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.Mark 15:37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.John 19:30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. In Luke, we read Jesus’ 7th Word from the Cross: “Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46, NRSV) Why would Jesus, God incarnate, commend his spirit (soul) to God? This is the same conundrum we faced when exploring Jesus’ Fourth Word from the Cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34, NRSV) But when we remember that Jesus was not only fully divine, but fully human, it makes sense. The words of the Athanasian Creed, which all “orthodox” Christians (including Lutherans) profess, remind us that Jesus possessed “a rational soul and a human body.” It is his “human soul” that Jesus commends to God, his Father. Jesus offered his human soul to God’s eternal care. In doing do, Jesus reveals his complete trust in God. In essence, he was saying “Thy will be done.” As I was writing this devotion, I asked my theologically brilliant, born and bred Lutheran husband for his take. He reminded me of Luther’s teaching on interpreting Scripture: Let scripture interpret scripture. When we are faced with a difficult text to “unpack” we need to look at texts that are more readily understood. In this case, we need only look to the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6, Luke 11) and Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane: “He [Jesus] threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want’.” (Mark 14:35-36, NRSV) Because our dear Lord and Savior came to earth in the flesh, gave his life willingly to pay our debt, we can boldly pray the prayer our Lord taught us:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished’.” (John 19:30, NRSV) In his final hours on the cross, Jesus spoke his “Last Seven Words.” Not simple words, but phrases rich and deep with meaning for those who proclaim him “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer and Lord.” We continue our exploration of these extraordinary words of our Lord.The Sixth Word: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Still conscious after 6 hours on the cross, Jesus still has the strength to speak. According to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, he said them in a loud voice. These three words, “it is finished”, are packed with meaning. Jesus’ physical suffering has come to an end. No more pain, no more ridicule. No more feeling abandoned. No thirst. No more worry about his beloved mother, Mary. His physical life was over. But for those who believe Jesus is Savior and Lord, “it is finished” means more – so much more. It reflects the end of Jesus’ earthly mission. He had fulfilled the mission given to him by God, the Father. No longer did God’s children have to wait for a Savior – Jesus had come into the world as God incarnate to fulfill God’s law and ancient prophesies of who and what the Messiah would be. Jesus’ ushered in the Kingdom of God. In him, the unconditional grace, mercy and love that flows from God was revealed. Jesus brought light into a world full of darkness. He taught us to love one another – to care for the sick, the blind, the lame, to tend to the physical and spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters, to seek the lost, rejoice in good times and bad, to trust in him to provide for our needs, to seek him when we need shelter from the storm, to welcome the stranger, to care for the widowed and orphaned, to live in peace with joy. These lessons in justice and mercy aid us as we live in a dark, broken, sin-filled world. But the greatest thing Jesus accomplished on the Cross was our complete, unadulterated forgiveness for our transgressions. His suffering completed God’s plan of redemption and reconciliation for the original sin that taints each and every one of us and the whole of God’s creation. Our debt is paid in full. He did for us on the Cross what we could never do for ourselves – “earn” our way into eternal life. Because he died on the Cross of Calvary, once we leave this life we will enter eternal life with our glorious Triune God. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. For this, I will forever praise him! When the morning comes on the farthest hill I will sing His name, I will praise Him, still. When dark trials come and my heart is filled With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him, still. For the Lord, our God, He is strong to save From the arms of death, from the deepest grave, And He gave us life in His perfect will, And by His good grace, I will praise Him, still. “I Will Praise Him Still” – words and music by Fernando Ortega Praising His Holy Name, Sandi Pontious

“After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28, NRSV) In his final hours on the cross, Jesus spoke his “Last Seven Words.” Not simple words, but phrases rich and deep with meaning for those who proclaim him “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer and Lord.” We continue our exploration of these extraordinary words of our Lord.The Fifth Word: “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28) Our dear Lord Jesus hangs on the cross, his grieving mother looks on. He is bleeding profusely from the beating given him before he was brought to the place of crucifixion. “Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.” (Mark 15:22-23, NRSV) As was the custom prior to nailing the condemned to the cross, Roman soldiers offered Jesus an anesthetic drink (wine or vinegar mixed with myrrh) to help ease his suffering, but he did not take it. This was likely due to Jesus’ need to fully experience the agony of the cross, to fulfill his mission to take on the entire weight of humanity’s sin. After hours of hanging on the cross, Jesus would have lost a lot of blood and other bodily fluids such as sweat so it is not at all surprising that he would be thirsty. “A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.” (John 19:29, NRSV) This time Jesus drank. His human body desperately needed it.His physical thirst is not the only reason for this declaration from the cross. He uttered these words to fulfill messianic prophecy. When John wrote his account of the crucifixion (remember he was the only disciple present), he included Jesus’ “I am thirsty” in response to a passage from the Psalms: “Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:20-21) When I think of this word from the cross, I am reminded that Jesus himself is the living water promised to the Samaritan woman at the well. “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Jesus is referring here to a passage from Isaiah: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3, NRSV) Jesus suffered and died on the cross so that you and I may drink the living water of eternal life. Profess Christ as Lord and never thirst again. Lord, God, once again I thank you for the sacrifice of your Son. In his death and resurrection, my thirst for salvation is satisfied. Remind me to continue to seek the Living Water, Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help me remember the words of the Psalmist: “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1, NRSV) “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42:1-2a, NRSV). Amen

Thirsty for God,Sandi Pontious

Photo: “I Thirst: The Vinegar Given to Jesus” watercolor by James Tissot (1886-1894). Licensed under Creative Commons.

“Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” (John 19:25-27, NRSV) In his final hours on the cross, Jesus spoke his “Last Seven Words.” Not simple words, but phrases rich and deep with meaning for those who proclaim him “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer and Lord.” We continue our exploration of these extraordinary words of our Lord.The Third Word: “Woman, here is your son.” (John 19:26) Naked and bleeding, our Lord Jesus looked down from his cross of suffering and saw his mother. The mother who carried him in her womb. The woman who took care of him as any loving mother would stood watching him die. She brought him into the world and was now watching him leave. Can you imagine her anguish? Mary may have been pondering Simeon’s prophecy when the infant Jesus was presented at the temple: “Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”’ (Luke 2:34-35, NRSV) As the eldest son, Jesus had the responsibility of ensuring that his mother was taken care of when he was gone. We know that Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses [Joseph] and Judas [Jude] and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55, NRSV) So, then, why did Jesus commend the care of his mother to John? Only the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was present at the Crucifixion. The others had fled in fear. No mention of Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, is made after Jesus’ teaching in the temple at age twelve. The assumption is that between the temple event and the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Joseph had died. But where were Jesus’ brothers? A clue comes from the Gospel of John: “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ (For not even his brothers believed in him.)” (John 7:1-5, NRSV) This shows us that with the exception of Mary, Jesus’ immediate family did not believe him to be the Messiah. At one point in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ family goes out into the crowd that had gathered and tried to “restrain” him because the people were saying “he has gone out of his mind.” (Mark 3:21) Jesus’ concern for the future care of his mother reveals Jesus’ humanity. When we ponder the ministry, life, death and resurrection of our Lord, we tend to focus on the divinity of Jesus. On the Cross of Calvary, Jesus died as the Savior of the World, but to Mary, he was her first born child. With our focus on the salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, sometimes we forget that our Lord was both fully human and fully divine. As we confess in the Athanasian Creed:For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man. He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother—existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body. As a fully human son, Jesus’ chief concern was for the care of his earthly mother even as he was being crucified. He chose John, the disciple whom he loved, because Jesus knew John would be a good and faithful son to Mary and care for her until the end of her days. The reality of Jesus’ humanity brings us comfort and hope. He has felt pain, loneliness, and despair. He has walked in our shoes. He knows how we feel when times are dark and the world overwhelms us. He’s not some distant God looking down at us, having no clue what we go through when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He’s been there and knows how to comfort us and bring us hope for a brighter day. We can also see in Jesus’ choice of John the necessity of having a “spiritual” family (the faith community). Since no mention is made of Jesus’ brothers’ being at the cross, we assume that they still did not believe their brother Jesus to be the Messiah, but John did. Jesus wanted his mother cared for by a member of the faith community. It wasn’t until the resurrection that Jesus’ family came to believe. “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” (Acts 1:14, NRSV) Later, James became the leader of church in Jerusalem and was eventually martyred for his faith. Like Mary, we need our “spiritual” family (the church). We are created to be in community. In awe of my Lord’s humanity,